Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 7 › Conversation 007-116

Nixon phone call with Colson on John D. Ehrlichman and Media strategy

Friday, August 13, 1971 · 1:47 PM–1:51 PM ET · White House Telephone ·4 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Colson, Charles W.Conversation007-116 onTape 7 (tape position 04:08:45–04:12:53)StartFriday, August 13, 1971 at 1:47 PMEndFriday, August 13, 1971 at 1:51 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 007-116 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon consulted with Charles Colson regarding political messaging strategy prior to departing for a Quadriad meeting at Camp David. The President directed Colson to ensure that a recent interview given by John Ehrlichman received wider circulation among influential columnists, noting his disappointment with the lack of television network coverage. Colson confirmed that transcripts had already been distributed to several columnists to help maintain the story's momentum in the press.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

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Hello?

Yes, sir, Mr. President.

Hello?

I have to go to Camp David to meet with the Quadriad in about a half hour.

Oh.

So, do you have anything before we leave?

No, I don't think so beyond what I covered with you last evening.

Now, the other thing is, I want you to be sure, it didn't get a great play, but it got noticed.

I want the Ehrlichman interview yesterday to be fed around, particularly to columnists and the rest.

You started that this morning, sir.

Because it's a good story.

Oh, it's a very good story.

I frankly would have expected more in the networks from it last night.

Well, the busing thing.

The busing thing just knocked it out.

But nevertheless, if you could keep that one going,

That'll be a good idea.

Well, we'll do that.

We've gotten the transcripts this morning and delivered them to a half a dozen columnists already, which I think that one will build.

It's a good continuing kind of story.

Right.

Okay.

We'll do that, sir.

Thank you.

NARA Description

On August 13, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:47 pm and 1:51 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 007-116 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 7-116

Date: August 13, 1971
Time: Unknown between 1:47 pm and 1:51 pm
Location: White House Telephone

[See Conversation No. 563-10]

     The President's schedule
          -Camp David
               -Quadriad meeting

**********************************************************************

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 08/09/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[007-116-w001]
[Duration: 2m 49s]

       Politics
                  -George W. Romney's speech
                         -The President’s opinion
                  -Democrats
                         -Administration tactics
                                -Economy
                                -Vietnam
                                -Robert J. Dole's press conference
                                        -California
                                        -August 14, 1971
                                        -Statement release
                                                 -Charles W. Colson’s opinion
                                                 -Employment
                                                        -Vietnam
                                -News summaries
                                        -Counter attack
                                -Edmund S. Muskie
                                -Busing stand

                                      -Edmund S. Muskie
                                      -Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy
                                      -Hubert H. Humphrey
                                      -George C. Wallace
                                      -Distribute statements in the South
                                      -Abraham A. Ribicoff amendment

**********************************************************************

     John D. Ehrlichman's interview
          -Press
          -Distribution
          -Busing domination
          -Transcripts
                -Columnists

**********************************************************************

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 08/09/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[007-116-w002]
[Duration: 20s]

     Busing
          -Democratic candidates’ statements
              -Vulnerability

**********************************************************************

Also recorded on August 13, 1971

007-114 12:32 PM · 43 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon talked on the telephone from 12:32 pm to 12:33 pm.
007-115 12:33 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 12:33 pm and 1:47 pm.
563-007 1:45 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:45 pm and 1:47 pm.
563-008 1:45 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:45 pm and 1:47 pm.
563-009 1:45 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:45 pm and 1:47 pm.
563-010 1:47 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson met in the Oval Office of the White House from 1:47 pm to 1:51 pm.
563-011 1:54 PM · 31 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House from 1:54 pm to 2:10 pm.
563-012 2:23 PM · 47 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 2:23 pm and 2:28 pm.

All 18 conversations from August 13, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 007-116, August 13, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/007-116 (accessed September 18, 2026).